I always love easy to make slow cooker recipes. I love being able to throw together a few things in the morning, and then have supper ready for that evening. Like tonight, Bill was over an hour late, but the kids and I were able to eat.

1 cup beef broth
1/3 cup Italian dressing
1/4 cup BBQ sauce (I used Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce)
1 tsp oregano leaves
1 lb beef stew meat
4 potatoes
1 bag baby carrots (16oz)
1 large onion, cut into chunks
3 tbsp tastefully Simple Bacon Bacon Seasoning (A couple pieces of chopped up bacon should work too)
3 tbsp flour
3 tbsp water

Mix broth, dressing, BBQ sauce, and oregano in a bowl. Put all remaining ingredients in the slow cooker except for the flour and water.  Pour bowl mixture over the ingredients in the slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low for 8 - 9 hours (or 4 - 5 hours on high).

Fifteen minutes before you want to serve, use a slotted spoon and transfer meat and veggies to a serving bowl.  Cover with foil.

In a bowl, mix the flour and water until well blended.  Stir into slow cooker.  Cover and cook on high for 15 minutes.  Spoon over meat and vegetables.

My husband loves spicy. The kids and I do not. It makes cooking at my house extremely interesting since I would like everybody to be happy.  Morton’s Seasoning Salt and Cajun Seasoning was a huge hit in my house.  We recently tried this seasoning on some wonderful thin sliced porterhouse steaks from our local grocery store.  The seasoning salt gave my steak an awesome flavor. I am not one for seasoning most things, so I was surprised how the seasoning brought out the flavor of my already awesome steak.  I shared my steak with the kids, and they also liked it.  My husband tried the Cajun Seasoning on his steak.  He liked the kick that his steak got from it.  When I make steaks, I hadn’t been seasoning them at all.  However, now that I have been turned onto the delicious flavors of Morton’s Seasonings, I am now going to be seasoning everything I grill out on my Foreman Grill (remember, I live in Chicago, and it is a tad cold to grill outside).  If you would like to try out these seasonings on your own, they can be bought at any one of the 80 Morton’s Steakhouse locations and their website.  I have to decide what to make for dinner tonight, and I think steak sounds good, don’t you?

I’m lucky that my kids are still little, so they have no choice that we have family dinners almost every night.  However, I know many families that family dinners have fallen to the wayside to the activities of their children.  I love that Libby’s has teamed to together with Sara Evans to get families to eat together again in a program called Get Back To The Table.  This site is awesome to help you get your family back into doing family dinners.

Don’t know what to make for supper tonight (This is me every night - lol)?  Libby’s has a CANvenient Recipe Database you can check out and find some great dinner recipes.  There are also coupons, mealtime strategies, the 5 reasons you should be having dinner together tonight, and even a Q&A with Sara Evans.  Did you know that between her and her husband they have nine kids!!!

Make sure you also check out the Get Back To The Table site also because they are running an awesome contest.  You can win dinner backstage with Sara Evans!  All you need to do is tell them how you get your family around the kitchen table!  (And if you have some good tips and hints, make sure you let me know too!)

Again, these are all for the Chicago area.  If you’d like me to include your event, please leave a comment and I will add you to next week’s list!

taste Of Italy - Mario Rizzotti (one of the judges on Iron Chef America) will be having a cooking demonstration and tasting of extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars.  $30 tonight at 7 pm at Mezzaluna Italian and Cooking Classes in Wester Springs.  Please call for reservations at 708-246-6055.

Just Food - 20 area chefs are participating in the Chefs & The City befits for those affected by HIV and AIDS.  Tickets are $250 and $350 for the VIP event.  It is tonight at 7 pm at The Peninsula, 108 E Superior St.  Call for reservations at 312-948-2785.

Cooking at Green City - Paul LoDuca is teaching a demonstation class at the Green City Market, 1750 N Clark St for free tomorrow morning at 10:30 am.  For more information, please call 773-435-0280.

Tricks Of The Trade - Michael Foly shares menu ideas at a demonstration class at Bloomindale’s Home & Furniture Store, Medinah Temple, 600 Wabash Ave.  It is free and at 2 pm tommorrow.  For more information, please call 312-324-7678.

Cutting Edge - Stephanie Oesligle is teaching a hands on “sharp as a knife” skill class.  It is $53 and takes place August 18 at 6:30 pm at Two Kitchens, 2035 Washington St. Suite 155, Naperville.  For more information, please call 630-717-9630.

cheese course - Mary Rose teaches a class on cooking with Italian cheeses.  It is $75 and takes place August 19 at 7 pm at Cucina Della Rose Cooking School, 211 Park Ave., Barrington.  For more information, please call 847-650-9463

Healing Foods - Jeannie Burke shares tips in “Foods that Heal - taste and Learn about Easy Recipes the Fight Inflammation and Prevent Diseases”.  It is $30 and takes place at 7 pm on August 19 at A Movable Feast, 1641 N Alpine Rd., Rockford.  Please call 815-877-8696 for more information.

Culinary secrets - Ramiro Velasquez  is having a demonstration class followed by a 3 course lunch with wine pairings.  It is $65 on August 20 at 10:45 am at Carlos Restaurant, 429 Temple Ave., Highland Park.  For more information, please call 847-432-0770.